12/2/15

We celebrate the Second Sunday of Advent this coming weekend. This readings and background material on them can be found here. If you'll be shepherding young ones to Mass, take a look here for hints on helping children prepare to hear the Word.This Sunday's first lesson is from the prophet Baruch and includes beautiful images of hope for Jerusalem and for her people in light of what God desires to reveal to them.As is always the case for the second Sunday of this season, John the Baptist is the central character in the gospel passage. Here, in Luke's gospel, John echoes the voice of Isaiah (musically proclaimed in Handel's Messiah, below) calling upon us to prepare the way for the Lord's coming.The second lesson, taken from Philippians, offers encouragement and instruction for those who await the coming of the day of Christ. In this passage St. Paul writes, "And this is my prayer: that you love may increase more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value..."Awash in commercialism, is there any other time of year when it is more important for us to make the effort to discern what is of value?

Are you thinking about becoming a Catholic?

The best place to start is always one of your local Catholic churches. Drop in some Sunday and see what's going on. Then you might speak to the pastor or someone on the parish staff about how they can help you and respond to your questions.